Paperjam

Har Mar Superstar, Notts Rescue Rooms, 8th Aug

Gigs // Steve // 10th August 2003

We've seen Har Mar previously at an event where no-one really knew who he was, and he had to work that generous ass to get the crowd into it. A couple of months later, and this crowd are all here for him, and they want him pretty bad. In fact some of the ladies down the front want him a little too bad.

Half-way through the first song, as Har Mar leans into the crowd to whisper sweet nothings into someone's ear, some fool throws beer into his face, and he doesn't like it. "Hope that when you masturbate tonight, the spunk hits you in the eye" he bellowed. So not the best start then, but "Sisters and Brothers" sorts it all out, a righteous soul-stomp that gets the sweat flowing - it really was unbelievably hot in there.

It's all as you'd expect, Har Mar doing his usual strip, but the crowd now throw specially prepared stuff at him, pants, handkerchiefs, and even a top hat which he tries out - "...it's not really me...". For most of the set he appears to be concerned with getting off with as many members of the front row as possible, occasionally he misses his cue for a verse 'cos he's so engrossed in the tonsil hockey with the freaks at the front.

For "E-Z Pass" he wanders through the crowd, and blimey, he's about four feet tall. Half of the audience take this as an invitation to invade the stage, and when he gets back up it looks like a particularly odd pop video, Har Mar teetering on the edge of the stage while the horde gyrate behind him.

The crowd are ushered off the stage, and Har Mar breaks into his usual barnstorming cover of Stevie Wonder's "Sir Duke". A single encore, and that's it, short, sweaty and sweet. If you haven't seen him live yet, you're missing out - if he ever gets a live band together he'll be unstoppable.

Links

• Thefuckingbest.com - Really impressive fansite
• Youcanfeelme.com - Website supporting the album